Delta Packet Compression Circuit for Trace Data Bandwidth
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Solution Overview
Problem
The bandwidth limitations in data processing circuits often result in delays or loss of trace data, as excessive data output exceeds available bandwidth, leading to potential data loss if not managed effectively.
Innovation Solution
A compression mechanism using monitor circuitry to generate packets, compare circuitry to create delta packets based on a base packet, compress circuitry to form compressed packets by removing redundant bytes, and update circuitry to change the base packet based on triggers, ensuring efficient data transmission while maintaining information integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a large amount of trace data is generated to determine the root cause of behaviour, then the diagnostic information completeness is improved, but the bandwidth limit is exceeded causing delay or data loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential differences between packets by generating delta packets that contain only changed bytes rather than transmitting complete packets. This extraction principle reduces the data volume significantly while preserving the diagnostic information needed to determine root causes, preventing bandwidth overflow and data loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the representation parameter of trace data from complete packet format to delta packet format containing only differences. This parameter transformation allows the same diagnostic information to be conveyed in a compressed form that fits within bandwidth limits, maintaining reliability while preserving information completeness.
2Productivity
If trace data is transmitted at high rate to avoid delay, then the productivity is improved, but the bandwidth limit is exceeded causing data loss
Solution Approach 1:
By extracting only the differential information in delta packets, the system reduces the transmission volume to fit within bandwidth limits, enabling continuous high-rate transmission without data loss while maintaining diagnostic completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the trace data transmission into base packets and delta packets, where only the changed portions are transmitted. This segmentation allows efficient use of bandwidth for high-rate transmission while preventing overflow and data loss.
3Quantity of substance
If compression is applied to reduce data volume, then the bandwidth requirement is reduced, but the device complexity increases due to compare and compress circuitry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex software-based compression algorithms with dedicated hardware compare circuitry that performs byte-by-byte comparison and generates delta packets. This mechanical substitution of compression functions with specialized circuitry reduces the overall system complexity while achieving effective data volume reduction.
4Quantity of substance
If delta packets are generated by comparing with base packet, then the data volume is reduced, but the time for comparison and processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces general-purpose processing with dedicated hardware compare circuitry that performs packet comparison in parallel at the circuit level. This substitution eliminates sequential processing delays, generating delta packets without significant time penalty while achieving substantial size reduction.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus is provided, which includes monitor circuitry for monitoring the behaviour of processing circuitry and for generating at least a packet indicating the behaviour. Compare circuitry compares the packet to a base packet and generates a delta packet based on the comparison. Compress circuitry forms a compressed packet on the basis of the delta packet. Output circuitry outputs the compressed packet and update circuitry updates the base packet in dependence on one or more triggers.